Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell was a prominent figure during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, taking on a key offensive role for a team that was able to win its second Stanley Cup championship in four seasons Monday night.

Bickell, 27, scored eight goals during the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- one fewer than he had in 48 regular-season games. In the Western Conference Final, he scored goals in three consecutive games, then added a pair of assists in the clinching Game 5 win against the Los Angeles Kings.

Bickell was shut out through the first three games in the Stanley Cup Final, but he came through with two assists in Game 4 and added another in Chicago's 3-1 win in Game 5. When the Blackhawks needed him most in Game 6 on Monday, Bickell answered by scoring the tying goal with 1:16 remaining in regulation. Dave Bolland's goal 17 seconds later gave Chicago a 3-2 win.

He kept a player blog that appeared on NHL.com throughout the series against the Boston Bruins.

In his last entry, Bickell writes about the experience of winning the Stanley Cup on Monday at TD Garden:

Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell has become a prominent figure during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, taking on a key offensive role for a team seeking to win its second championship in four seasons.

Bickell, 27, scored eight goals over the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- one fewer than he had in 48 regular-season games. In the Western Conference Final, Bickell scored goals in three consecutive games, then added a pair of assists in the clinching Game 5 win against the Los Angeles Kings.

Bickell was shut out through the first three games in the Stanley Cup Final, but he came through with two assists in Game 4 and added another in Chicago's 3-1 win in Game 5 on Saturday that gave the Blackhawks a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 championship series with Game 6 set for Monday night at TD Garden.

He has been gracious enough to agree to keep a player blog that will appear on NHL.com throughout the series against Boston.

In his latest entry, Bickell writes about how he used to dream about the Stanley Cup and pretend to play for it as a kid:

BOSTON -- As a kid, I always put myself in situations like the one we are in now -- next goal or next game wins the Stanley Cup. I always envisioned the scenario and tried to play it out, whether it was having a mini-series in my basement with mini sticks, playing road hockey with my buddies, pond hockey with them or even just playing some video games.

You wanted to win the Stanley Cup. You wanted to lift it, even if we didn't physically have it in our hands. Now we have a situation here where we can do that if we win Monday night and it's exciting. Talk about a great situation to be in.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell has become a prominent figure during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, taking on a key offensive role for a team seeking to win its second championship in four seasons.

Bickell, 27, scored eight goals during the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- one fewer than he had in 48 regular-season games. In the Western Conference Final, Bickell scored goals in three consecutive games, then added a pair of assists in the clinching Game 5 win against the Los Angeles Kings.

Bickell was shut out through the first three games in the Stanley Cup Final, but he came through with two assists in Game 4 and added another in Chicago's 3-1 win in Game 5 on Saturday that gave the Blackhawks a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 championship series.

He has been gracious enough to agree to keep a player blog that will appear on NHL.com throughout the series against Boston.

In his latest entry, Bickell writes about being one win away from winning the Stanley Cup:

Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell has become a prominent figure during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, taking on a key offensive role for a team seeking to win its second championship in four seasons.

Bickell, 27, scored eight goals over the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- one fewer than he had in 48 regular-season games. In the Western Conference Final, Bickell scored goals in three consecutive games, then added a pair of assists in the clinching Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

Bickell was shut out through the first three games in the Stanley Cup Final, but he came through with two assists in Game 4 on Wednesday when the Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins, 6-5, to tie the best-of-7 series 2-2.

He has been gracious enough to agree to keep a player blog that will appear on NHL.com throughout the series against Boston.

In his latest entry, Bickell writes about battling with Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara:

Let's start out with a funny story.

When I was playing for the Ottawa 67's, Zdeno Chara was playing for the Ottawa Senators. I took what we called co-op, which gave us school credits toward graduation for working outside of class. One time I did it at a construction site, another time at a sports store, but now I was getting credit for working with the Senators and it was my first real glimpse at Chara.

My job was basically to do things like laundry and fill up the water bottles, you know, things to help the team get ready for practice or clean up after practice. But to see Chara there, to see his work ethic and how physically strong he is, it was just amazing. His body fat is like 4 or 5 percent. He eats healthy and it pays off because he is a beast.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell has become a prominent figure during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, taking on a key offensive role for a team seeking to win its second championship in four seasons.

Bickell, 27, scored eight goals over the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- one fewer than he had in 48 regular-season games. In the Western Conference Final, Bickell scored goals in three consecutive games, then added a pair of assists in the clinching Game 5 win against the Los Angeles Kings.

Bickell was shut out through the first three games in the Stanley Cup Final, but he came through with two assists in Game 4 on Wednesday as the Blackhawks beat the Boston Bruins 6-5 to tie the best-of-7 series at 2-2.

He has been gracious enough to agree to keep a player blog that will appear on NHL.com throughout the series against Boston.

In his latest entry, Bickell writes about how he got his start in hockey:

CHICAGO -- With the extra day off in between Games 4 and 5, I figured it would be a good time to actually introduce myself to all the readers in the proper way by giving my backstory for how I got into hockey and how I got to the National Hockey League.

I grew up in Orono, Ontario, and like most kids I wanted to learn how to play hockey. But when I was 4 years old my parents said they wanted me to learn how to skate first. They got me into doing what we call CanSkate, which is a learn-to-skate program.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell has become a prominent figure during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, taking on a key offensive role for a team seeking to win its second championship in four seasons.

Bickell, 27, scored eight goals during the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- one fewer than he had in 48 regular-season games. In the Western Conference Final, Bickell scored goals in three consecutive games, then added a pair of assists in the clinching Game 5 win against the Los Angeles Kings.

Bickell was shut out through the first three games in the Stanley Cup Final, but he came through with two assists in Game 4 on Wednesday as the Blackhawks beat the Boston Bruins 6-5 to tie the best-of-7 series at 2-2.

He has been gracious enough to agree to keep a player blog that will appear on NHL.com throughout the series against Boston.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell has become a prominent figure during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, taking on a key offensive role for a team seeking to win its second championship in four seasons.

Bickell, 27, scored eight goals over the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- one fewer than he had in 48 regular season games. In the Western Conference Final, Bickell scored goals in three consecutive games, then added a pair of assists in the clinching Game 5 win against the Los Angeles Kings.

Bickell has been shut out through three games in the Stanley Cup Final.

He has been gracious enough to agree to keep a player blog that will appear on NHL.com throughout the series against the Boston Bruins.

In his fifth entry, Bickell writes about the Blackhawks tradition of playing Mario Kart on the road. He goes over the history and even ranks some of the players:

BOSTON -- I'm sure a lot of you have heard about how some of us on the team like to unwind when we're on the road by playing Mario Kart. I figured we'd lighten the mood today -- an off day between Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Final -- and I'd let you in on how it all started, what it's like for us and why we do it.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell has become a prominent figure during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, taking on a key offensive role for a team seeking to win its second championship in four seasons.

Bickell, 27, scored eight goals over the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- one fewer than he had in 48 regular season games. In the Western Conference Final, Bickell scored goals in three consecutive games, then added a pair of assists in the clinching Game 5 win against the Los Angeles Kings.

Bickell has been shut out through three games in the Stanley Cup Final.

He has been gracious enough to agree to keep a player blog that will appear on NHL.com throughout the series against the Boston Bruins.

In his third entry, Bickell writes about the Blackhawks 2-0 loss in Game 3 on Monday night, with some insight to the injury to Marian Hossa and his battle at the end of the game with Zdeno Chara:

Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell has become a prominent figure during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, taking on a key offensive role for a team seeking to win its second championship in four seasons.

Bickell, 27, scored eight goals over the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- one fewer than he had in 48 regular season games. In the Western Conference Final, Bickell scored goals in three consecutive games, then added a pair of assists in the clinching Game 5 win against the Los Angeles Kings. He's been held off the scoresheet through two games in the Stanley Cup Final.

Bickell has been gracious enough to agree to keep a player blog that will appear on NHL.com throughout the Cup Final.

In his third entry, Bickell writes about the morning after losing Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, how his fiancée, Amanda, talks hockey with him, and what he may do to change his luck for Game 3 on Monday:

BOSTON -- It was an unintentional early morning for me Sunday, but looking back on it I guess I really shouldn't be surprised that I couldn't sleep in even though I wanted to. My mind was on the game from Saturday night, on the 2-1 overtime loss and what went wrong after we played so well in the first period. It forced me to lose a bit of sleep, sleep that I probably could have used.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell has become a prominent figure during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, taking on a key offensive role for a team seeking to win its second championship in four seasons.

Bickell, 27, scored eight goals over the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs -- one fewer than he had in 48 regular-season games. In the Western Conference Final, Bickell scored goals in three consecutive games, then added a pair of assists in the clinching Game 5 win against the Los Angeles Kings.

Bickell has been gracious enough to agree to keep a player blog that will appear on NHL.com throughout the Stanley Cup Final.

In his second entry, Bickell writes about how the Blackhawks lost Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, 2-1, on Saturday night at United Center and what needs to be done to get over it when they get to Boston:

CHICAGO -- We felt good coming into Game 2 Saturday night. Confidence was on our side. I know we had a good atmosphere in the dressing room. We felt positive, had a good game plan going into the game and then we had a really good first period.

He's only 17 but he can see the ice so well and he moves the puck and goes to the open ice all the time, so I just think he's a player that is ready to play in the NHL. I'm really looking forward to coaching someone like this.

— U.S. National Junior Team coach Ron Wilson on Auston Matthews, the projected No. 1 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft